Mikautadze can’t play for a third club this season

The 23-year-old will make the move on loan to Metz without an option to buy, and can do so because the Georgian international cannot represent a third club this season after playing for Ajax and featuring in Metz’s first three games this season (scoring two goals). 

L’Équipe report that Mikautadze could arrive back in the Lorraine region by the 29th December in order to undergo a medical and re-join his former teammates when they return from the winter break. Ajax paid €16m for his services late in the summer transfer window, after last year’s Ligue 2 ‘player of the year’ scored 23 goals and registered eight assists in France’s second tier. 

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After appearing today to give his testimony and for his lawyer to mount a defence, Nice’s prosecutor has asked for Atal to be given a 10-month suspended prison term, a fine of 45,000 euros and a publication of the court decision on Instagram for a period of one month.

Emotion and regret in the courtroom for Youcef Atal

Earlier today Atal spoke in front of the court about sharing the controversial post.“I shared the video because I thought it was a message of peace and that people are suffering during this war. Unfortunately, I regret not seeing it through to the end,” said the defender in response to questioning from the prosecutor.

Atal has not played for Nice since 1st October, suspended not only by the LFP but also by his own club. Nice-Matin reported that the defender won’t play for Les Aiglons again – with the club looking to offload the player in January. 

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“I shared the video because I thought it was a message of peace and that people are suffering during this war. Unfortunately, I regret not seeing it through to the end,” said Atal in his opening statement. “I shared it because I thought it was really a message of peace. I want people to stop suffering. It’s not my intention to be against anyone. Unfortunately I didn’t finish the video.”

Atal pleads levity, confirms club told him to remove post

The prosecutor questioned Atal whether he checked who was the author of the post. “No, I didn’t have that reflex. I saw the video and posted it so that people wouldn’t suffer. I wasn’t more interested in the person. At the beginning, he was talking about people so that they wouldn’t suffer any more and I shared it.” Atal was also asked about the reasons for the removal and the apology. “Who called you to remove?” he asks him. “It was the club, the sporting director who called me. I removed the video and sent a message of apology,” explained Atal.

“I’m just a football player, I’m not trying to get into politics. I shared without looking until the end and then I sent a message of apology. A sincere apology,” said the Algerian international, reportedly emotional in the court room. 

Atal has not played for Nice since 1st October, suspended not only by the LFP but also by his own club. Nice-Matin reported that the defender won’t play for Les Aiglons again – with the club looking to offload the player in January. 

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Les Sang & Or continue their European journey after finishing third in Group B of the Champions League, behind Arsenal and PSV Eindhoven. Franck Haise’s side drew against Sevilla in their opening game and surprised Arsenal at home with a win (2-1). However, a loss against PSV and a capitulation against Arsenal (6-0) saw their chances of continuation in the Champions League fall away. Yet, Lens secured a spot in the Europa League play-off round with a win last week against La Liga outfit and Europa League veterans Sevilla (2-1). 

They will face Bundesliga side SC Freiburg, who finished second in Group A of the Europa League behind Premier League side West Ham United. The Germans won four matches but lost twice, which saw them secure a play-off round spot.

The Europa League play-off knockout round involves the eight runners up from the Europa League group stage against the eight third-placed teams in the Champions League group stage. The winners of these two-legged matches will head to the Europa League round of 16 in March, where they’ll join the eight group winners.

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Les Violets finished behind Liverpool in Group E of the Europa League, beating the Premier League side at home in a 3-2 win at the Toulouse FC Stadium. They will face the Portuguese side in February 2024, who finished 3rd in Group D of the Champions League behind Real Sociedad and Inter Milan.

After being promoted from Ligue 2 in 2022/21, the Occitane region side won the Coupe de France  5-1 against Nantes last year at the Stade de France, securing European football for the fifth time in their history.

The knockout round involves the eight runners up from the Europa League group stage against the eight third-placed teams in the Champions League group stage. The winners of these two-legged matches will head to the Europa League round of 16 in March, where they’ll join the eight group winners.

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Les Olympiens finished second in Group B behind Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion, after losing 1-0 at the Amex Stadium last Thursday. Gennaro Gattuso’s side beat AEK Athens and Ajax in the group on the way to the play-off round.

Gattuso’s side will face the Ukrainian side, who finished third in Champions League Group H behind FC Porto and Barcelona with three wins and three losses on their record

The Europa League knockout play-off round involves the eight runners up from the Europa League group stage against the eight third-placed teams in the Champions League group stage. The winners of these two-legged matches will head to the Europa League round of 16 in March, where they’ll join the eight group winners.

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Milan faced Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League ‘group of death’, but after one defeat (2-1) and one win (2-1) against Les Parisiens finished third to drop into the Europa League play-offs.

The Europa League play-off knockout round involves the eight runners up from the Europa League group stage against the eight third-placed teams in the Champions League group stage. The winners of these two-legged matches will head to the Europa League round of 16 in March, where they’ll join the eight group winners.

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The draw for the round of 16 in the Champions League took place in Nyon, Switzerland, and has given PSG a trip to the Basque region. Real Sociedad finished ahead of Inter Milan in Group D. It will be the first time PSG face a Spanish side since being knocked out of the competition by Real Madrid in the round of 16 in March 2022.

The first legs of the Champions League round of 16 will take place the 13th, 14th, 20th, and 21st February – with the return fixtures taking place the 5th, 6th, 12th and 13th March 2024.

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“Do you really think I’m thinking about Milan tonight? I told you, I’m thinking about Clermont and Montpellier, that’s all. Defeat hurts me right now. We’ll just have to see. Whoever we come up against, I don’t have a preference.”

“After that, we’ll see. Right now, there are two games left and we want to finish well before we all go and get some rest [during the winter break]. We knew there was a risk of two more games, so we’ll see when the time comes.”

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Brighton – Olympique de Marseille : Joey #Barton dans le parcage marseillais #Brighton #OM #ultras #Marseille #BHAFCOM (14.12.23) pic.twitter.com/4vt0LtsIUJ

— 1899 Mode Ultrà (@ultras1899_) December 14, 2023

It is not the first time the controversial former manager of Bristol Rovers and Rotherham has been spotted with the OM faithful in European ties. Barton was spotted last year at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a 2-0 loss for Igor Tudor’s side, as well as another loss against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the 2012-2013 season. OM’s defeat to Brighton completes a hat-trick of away trip losses for the outspoken former Marseille man, who made 25 appearances in Ligue 1.

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